I've never used a table runner except at Christmas but now I've decided that I'd like one. I've ordered FGs from equilter to match the colors in the oil painting on the diningroom wall since I won't be using it when I have dishes on the table. I will have a centerpiece, usually fresh roses.

There is nothing casual in the room so I want the runner to be very formal in feel, probably one long central design on a pale background with a colored border. The FG's are 5 jewel tones of teal and turguoise. The table isn't large, 48x60, and the runner needs to hang over the ends about 12". So I'm thinking about 18" wide by 84"long with maybe a tassel at each end. How does this sound?

Those of you who make these things please give me some advice. Thank you.

The oil is a beautiful seascape of cliffs and the Aegean Sea, the sea is deep, deep turquoise, the cliffs are light sandstone with greenish foliage at the top. The sky is a clear blue peaking through thunderheads which repeat the colors of the cliffs. The oil is about 4'x3' and the frame is the color of the foliage. The walls of the room are a light grey, the drapery at the window is burgandy.
I am traditional not contemporary in all of my furniture.

Does this help? The table has a beautiful wooden top and when I set the table I use placemats so that the wood grain can be seen. Only occasionally do I use a tablecloth.
I use fresh roses as a centerpiece because I pick them from my rose bushes. It just an easy centerpiece.

The Quilted Forest has some really cool, simple, easy patterns on a laminated card 3.5"x 5", with all the info you would need. They have a simple 9 patch block that is on point and all you would need to do is extend the pattern that you liked to make it the size you want.

If your table is 48" wide, and your runner is 18" wide that will leave 15" on each side for place settings, which sounds good to me. You need enough room so your stemware isn't on the runner and may tip. I like runners to run over the edge of the table, so the length is good too. My main dining room table is 17' long so my runner (only have a Christmas one) is over 6 yards long.